Sourav Ganguly faces corruption allegations as CAB hits back at Avishek Dalmiya

The Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB) has been in turmoil as they were alleged of corruption and governance failures raised by former president Avishek Dalmiya against Sourav Ganguly and his administration. However, ahead of the September Annual General Meeting (AGM), CAB has denied all the allegations made against the former India captain.

Cricket Association of Bengal, in a three-page letter, communicated to West Bengal Sports Minister Dr Indranil Khan, defended its administrative framework and dismissed the rumours about corruption, lack of transparency, and “systemic rot.” The reply came days after Avishek Dalmiya wrote a letter to the state’s Sports Integrity and Anti-Corruption Helpline requesting an investigation into the alleged malpractice within Bengal cricket.

Never faced a single line of allegation- CAB on Sourav Ganguly facing false allegation

The statement from the Cricket Association of Bengal, signed by Sourav Ganguly, secretary Bablu Kolay, and other office members, sought clarity over why Avishek had chosen to raise the issue publicly instead of discussing it internally.

The letter also stated that Sourav has been a good administrator as he had served as India captain, Cricket Association of Bengal president, BCCI president, and chairman of the ICC Cricket Committee and “yet has never faced a single line of allegation against his integrity.”

The Ombudsman and Ethics Officer system, established under the Supreme Court-mandated Lodha reforms, stated that High Court Chief Justice Jyotirmay Bhattacharya will hear the matter before passing on the final judgments. As Avishek Dalmiya knows how CAB functions, having been both secretary and president, and therefore had no reason to bypass it.

“Any complaint brought before the forum is treated with the highest degree of legal sanctity, impartiality, and transparency, entirely free from the interference of current office bearers,” the letter said.

Administrator has never complained- Cricket Association of Bengal

“Given that a retired Chief Justice of the High Court heads this apex integrity mechanism within our constitution, bypassing this established judicial forum via open public letters appears to be an attempt to publicize sports governance issues rather than addressing genuine concerns through proper legal channels.”

The association further stated: “It is particularly ironical when such communications emanate from a past administrator who has been intimately familiar with these institutional mechanisms during his respective own tenures as Secretary and President up until 2022 and in fact, administrator has never complained with regards to any irregularities of CAB from 2022 till date.”

Cricket Association of Bengal also denied other bigger allegations made by the former President. “The apprehensions expressed regarding ‘corruption, systemic rot, selection integrity’ and lack of transparency do not accurately reflect the functioning of the Cricket Association of Bengal,” the letter stated.

It has come as a great surprise to everyone- Cricket Association of Bengal

As per CAB, the Presidents over the last three decades, with the likes of B.N. Dutt, Jagmohan Dalmiya, Sourav Ganguly, and Avishek Dalmiya himself, had overseen CAB without facing such allegations. “It is therefore surprising that the recent communication appears to portray that, except during his own tenure, discrepancies have existed across other administrations,” the letter stated.

“To suggest that everything was functioning correctly only during one specific tenure and flawed during all others is untenable.”

“To generalise wrongdoing or cast sweeping assumptions over the majority of them is a complete misrepresentation of facts and deeply disregards their earnest efforts and intent. No past President or Secretary of the CAB has ever issued a public letter of this nature, and it has come as a great surprise to everyone within the association.”